Needle punching machine for endless webs

ABSTRACT

A needle punching machine for manufacturing endless webs comprising a needle beam, a bed beam for supporting the web and means for raising and lowering said bed beam within said frame, at least one end of the framework has an opening large enough for the beam to pass through, the improvement comprising first, second, third and fourth bearing means wherein the first and second bearing means are outside of the needling area and support the bed beam in a lowered position within the framework, the second and third support the bed beam in cantilever fashion when the beam is moved out of engagement with the first bearing means, and the fourth bearing means supports the bed beam when it is removed from the frame and clear of the web.

nited States Patent [1 1 Brochetti [451 May 14, 1974 NEEDLE PUNCHING MACHINE FOR ENDLESS WEBS [75] Inventor: Raymond E. Brochetti, Westfield,

Mass.

[73] Assignee: James Hunter Machine Company,

Inc., North Adams, Mass.

[22] Filed: Jan. 29, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 327,524

[52] US. Cl 28/4 R [51] Int. Cl ..'D04h 18/00 [58] Field of Search 28/4 R, 72.2 R

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,117,359 1/1964 O'Byrne 28/4 R 3,540,096 11/1970 Porta 28/4 R 3,561,081 2/1971 Fehrer 28/4 R Primary Examiner-Louis K. Rimrodt Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Chapin, Neal and Dempsey [57] ABSTRACT A needle punching machine for manufacturing endless webs comprising a needle beam, a bed beam for supporting the web and means for raising and lowering said bed beam within said frame, at least one end of the framework has an opening large enough for the beam to pass through, the improvement comprising first, second, third and fourth bearing means wherein the first and second bearing means are outside of the needling area and support the bed beam in a lowered position within the framework, the second and third support the bed beam in cantilever fashion when the beam is moved out of engagement with the first bearing means, and the fourth bearing means supports the bed beam when it is removed from the frame and clear of the web.

6 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures ATENTEDMAY 14 1974 SHEEY 1' UF 4 PATENTEMAYMIHM 3 810 284 sum 2 or a I FIGA- PATENTEMAY 14 I974 SWEEY w [W &

mm mm BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to needle punching machines for needling endless textile webs. such as felts for the papermaking industry and particularly for felts of greater widths which are difficult to handle.

Needle punching machines comprise a needle beam which is reciprocally mounted within a frame, a plurality of depending needles extending from the needle beam, and a bed beam also mounted within the frame for supporting an endless web and having perforations for receiving the needles. When the web is positioned in the machine, it extends between the needles and bed beam and under the bed beam so that it completely encircles the bed beam.

Removal of endless webs from the machine has always been a problem and this problem is more acute with the larger webs. An apparatus for web removal is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,129,486 to OByrne wherein one end of the bed beam can be supported alternatively at two points to enable an endless web to be inserted and removed in two stages. This solution requires that the web be folded or crumpled in longitudinal direction between these two points. This may damage the finished web and may be impossible to do with larger and stiffer webs.

Apparatus and method of removing a web from the frame are disclosed in the commonly assigned application by Edgar C. Rust, .Ir. entitled Needle Punching Machine for Endless Web and Method of Removing Web and filed 25 Mar. I971 under Ser. No. 127,976, now US. Pat. No. 3,727,277, grantedApril I7, 1973. In this application, the bed beam is releasably mounted within the frame, one end I of which has an opening large enough for the bed beam to pass through. The bed beam is lowered on bearing means on which the bed beam is withdrawn from the frame through the opening and clear of the web. Once the bed beam is thus removed, the web can be folded widthwise into a neat bundle and removed from the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of the present invention is similar to that shown in the above identified application to Rust, in thatthe bed beam is removed from the frame to permit removal of the web. The improvement comprises the provision of properly placed bearing so that there is no pressure applied to or contact made with the web by the bed beam whe'nit is lowered within the frame or when it is removed from the frame.

This is accomplished by havingfirst, second, third and fourth bearing means wherein the first and second are located beyond the edges of a web, when it is positioned to be needled, second and third bearing means support the bed beam in cantilever fashion when the bed beam is partially removed and out of contact with the first bearing means toward the second bearing means. The fourth bearing means support the bed beam when it is removed from the frame, at least sufficiently to be clear of the web.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is front elevation of the needle punching machine of the present invention, portions being in sec- FIG. 2 is an end view of the machinelooking in the direction ofarrow 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of FIG. I, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is front elevation similar to FIG. I showing the bed beam in a lowered position and supported by the first and second bearing means;

FIG. 5 is an end view looking in the direction of arrow 5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation, showing the bed beam partially removed from the frame and supported by the second and third bearing means;

FIG. 7 is an end view looking in the direction of arrow 7 in FIG. 6; v

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6, with portions broken away, showing the bed beam removed from the frame sufficiently to be clear of the web and supported by the fourth bearing means;

FIG. 9 is an end view similar to FIG. 5, with the bed beam removed;

FIG. l0is front elevation similar to FIGS showing 1 a modification of the fourth bearing means;

FIG. 11 is a vertical section on line 1I--l1 in FIG. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 12 is a vertical section on line 12 -12 in FIG. 10, lookingin the direction of the arrows;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the needle punching machine of the present invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and'comprises a frame including a top framework 12 and two end members I4 and 16 which have openings'l8 and 20, respectively;

A needle beam 22 is supported from framework .12 by rods 24 which are vertically reciprocated by drive means, not shown, enclosed within framework 12. Nee- Jacks 28 may be driven in any known manner as for exl ample by mechanical gearing or hydraulic means. Bed

beam 26 includes a flatbed plate 30 which has holes 32 for receiving needles 25 when bed beam -26 is in its.

raised or needling position. One end of bed beam 26 is indicated at 27 and the opposite end thereof is indicated at 29. Both of the ends 27 and 29 extend beyond vertical planes 31 and 33 which extend along the edges of the web when it is in needling position as shown in FIG. 1. Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a web 34 in needling position within the machine. Web 34 is supported on the bed plate 30 and a feed table 36 which is pivotally supported at 37 to the front side of bed beam 26. Web 34 extends downwardly around guide rollers 38 from bed plate 30 and then forwardly under the bed beam and through feed rollers 40 to a well 42 which is used to accommodate webs of substantial length. The web extends from well 42 back to the feed table 36 so that the bed beam is completely encircled by the web. The web 34 is advanced in a circuitous path around the bed beam in the direction of arrow 44 until the whole length thereof has passed between the needle beam 22 and bed beam 26 to be needled.

When the bed beam 26 is in its lowered position as shown in FIG. 4, it is supported on first and second bearing means indicated at 46 and 48, respectively, located within the lower portions of openings [8 and 20, respectively and outside of planes 31 and 33, respectively. First bearing means 46 comprises roller bearings 50 mounted on support brackets 51 and which engage a pair of plates 49 fixed to the lower portion of bed beam 26. Plates 49 taper upwardly toward the end 27 as indicated by dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 4 to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the bed with respect to roller 50. Second bearing means 48 may be of any suitable type but it is preferred that they are trains of concave rollers indicated at 54 mounted on support stands 56 for engagement with round rails 52 which are fixed to the lower portion' of bed beam 26. These trains of concave rollers may be of the type sold by Thomson Industries Inc. of Manhasset, New York under the trademark ROUNDWAY. Third bearing means 58 are mounted on stands 60 positioned outside of the second bearing means and include trains of concave rollers 62 of the same type as the second bearing means except that the rollers are positioned for engagement with the upper portions of rails 52 as shown in FIG. 7. Third beari'ng'means 58 are positioned so that end 29 of the bed beam engages rollers 62 before plates 49 at end 27 of the beam loose contact with roller bearings 50 when the bed beam is shifted to the right as viewed in FIG. 4.

Fourth bearing means generally indicated at 64 in FIG. 1 are placed beyond the third bearing means for supporting the bed beam when it is removed from the machine sufficiently to be clear of the web as shown in FIG. 8. There are many known types of bearings which may be used for supporting the bed beam outside of the machine and as many units as desired may be employed for supporting the beam along its length. In the preferred embodyment shown in FIG. 1, fourth bearing means 64 is a single unit comprising a pair of roller bearings 66 mounted on stands 68. Bearings 66 are spaced from the second bearing means 48, a distance which is less than the distance between opposite end 29 and a vertical plane extending through the center of gravity of the bed beam 26. As shown in FIG. 8, the center of gravity of the bed beam is indicated at 70 and the vertical plane extending therethrough is indicated at 72. Since the distance between 72 and 29 is greater than the distance between the second and fourth bearing means, plates 49 at end 29 of the bed beam will engage bearings 66 before the center of gravity 70 passes beyond the second bearing means as the bed beam is moved to the right as viewed in FIG. 8. Bearing means 66 will therefore engage the bed beam before end 29 can drop.

The bed beam is moved out of the machine by rubber wheels 78 and driven by a motor 80 located between support stands 16 of the second bearing means 48.

Wheel 78 engages the underside of the bed beam when it is in the lowered position as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. Although the illustrated bed beam moving apparatus is preferred, it is contemplated that other means not connected with the machine could be used to push or otherwise drive the bed beam out of the machine.

Once the web has been completely needled and is ready for removal from the machine, table 36 is swung downwardly and one of the drive rolls 40 is moved out of engagement with the other as shown in FIG. 5. The web is then partially folded widthwise into a neat pile indicated at 74. The portion of the web which passes beneath the bed beam, indicated at 76, is allowed to slump below the level of the first and second bearing means. The jacks 28 are actuated to lower the bed beam onto the first and second bearing means and moved an additional amount to be clear of the bed beam as shown in FIG. 5.

Once the bed beam 26 is in its lowered position, motor is actuated to drive wheels 78 and move beam 26 to the right as viewed in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 8 where the beam 26 is supported on the second and fourth bearing means. In this position, the bed beam 26 is removed sufficiently from the machine so as to be clear of the web. The remaining unfolded portions of web 34 can now be folded widthwise into pile 74 as shown in FIG. 9 and removed from the machine.

Referring to FIGS. 10-12 there is shown a modification of the fourth bearing means generally indicated by the reference numeral 64 and comprising two units indicated at 82 and 84. Unit 82 comprises chains of concave roller bearings 86 mounted on support stands 87. Roller bearings 86 are positioned for engagement with the upper portions of rails 52. Unit 84 comprises chains of roller bearings 88 mounted on support stands 89.

When the bed beam 26 is removed from the frame, fourth bearing means 64 will support the bed beam in cantilever fashion as shown in FIG. 10. The weight of the beam will rest on rollers 88 and rollers 86 will prevent end 27 of the beam from swinging upwardly.

I claim:

l. A needle punching machine for maufacturing an endless web comprising:

a. a needle beam having a plurality of depending needles secured thereto;

b. a removable bed beam adapted to support said web, the ends of said bed beam extending substantially beyond said needles when it is in needling position;

c. a frame for supporting said needle beam and having side members with at least one of said side members having an opening large enough for said bed beam to pass through;

d. means for raising said bed beam toward and lowering said bed from said needling position within said frame;

e. first bearing means located in a vertical plane which is outside of said needles for supporting one end of said bed beam when it is in a lowered position within said frame;

f. second bearing means located in a vertical plane which is outside of said needles for supporting the opposite end of said bed beam when it is in said lowered position;

g. third bearing means located outside of said second bearing means at a distance therefrom for engaging said bed beam before it loses contact with first bearing means upon shifting of said bed beam toward said third bearing means for preventing said opposite end from moving upwards when said bed beam is moved out of contact with said first bearing means; and h. fourth bearing for supporting said bed beam when it is removed from said frame clear of said web. 2. The needle punching machine as described in claim 1 wherein said fourth bearing means comprises a bearing element spaced from said second bearing means so that the distance between said second bearing means and said element is less than the distance be tween said opposite bed beam end and a vertical plane extending through the center of gravity of said bed beam.

3. The needle punching machine as described in claim 1 wherein said fourth bearing means comprises:'

a. a first unit spaced from said second bearing means at a distance less than the distance between said opposite bed beam end and a vertical plane extending through the center of gravity of said bed beam for bearing the entire weight of said bed beam; and

b. a second unit located between said firstunit and the vertical plane which extends through the outer needle of said depending needles which is nearest said opposite bed beam end for preventing the one end of said bed beam from moving upwards when the center of gravity of said bed beam'is beyond said first unit during removal of said bed beam.

4. The needle punching machine as described in claim 1 comprising elongated rails parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bed beam and extending out from the front and rear of said bed beam substantially along the entire length thereof, said second bearing means for bearing against the undersides of said rails and said third bearing means for bearing against the tops of said rails.

5. The needle punching machine as described in claim 4 wherein said rails are cylindrical and said second and third bearing means are concave roller bearmgs.

6. The needle punching machine as described in claim 1 comprising a driving wheel located adjacent said second bearing means for drivingly engaging said opposite bed beam end when it islowered from said needling position and for moving said bed beam out of said frame until said bed beam is clear of said web. 

1. A needle punching machine for maufacturing an endless web comprising: a. a needle beam having a plurality of depending needles secured thereto; b. a removable bed beam adapted to support said web, the ends of said bed beam extending substantially beyond said needles when it is in needling position; c. a frame for supporting said needle beam and having side members with at least one of said side members having an opening large enough for said bed beam to pass through; d. means for raising said bed beam toward and lowering said bed from said needling position within said frame; e. first bearing means located in a vertical plane which is outside of said needles for supporting one end of said bed beam when it is in a lowered position within said frame; f. second bearing means located in a vertical plane which is outside of said needles for supporting the opposite end of said bed beam when it is in said lowered position; g. third bearing means located outside of said second bearing means at a distance therefrom for engaging said bed beam before it loses contact with first bearing means upon shifting of said bed beam toward said third bearing means for preventing said opposite end from moving upwards when said bed beam is moved out of contact with said first bearing means; and h. fourth bearing for supporting said bed beam when it is removed from said frame clear of said web.
 2. The needle punching machine as described in claim 1 wherein said fourth bearing means comprises a bearing element spaced from said second bearing means so that the distance between said second bearing means and said element is less than the distance between said opposite bed beam end and a vertical plane extending through the center of gravity of said bed beam.
 3. The needle punching machine as described in claim 1 wherein said fourth bearing means comprises: a. a first unit spaced from said second bearing means at a distance less than the distance between said opposite bed beam end and a vertical plane extending through the center of gravity of said bed beam for bearing the entire weight of said bed beam; and b. a second unit located between said first unit and the vertical plane which extends through the outer needle of said depending needles which is nearest said opposite bed beam end for preventing the one end of said bed beam from moving upwards when the center of gravity of said bed beam is beyond said first unit during removal of said bed beam.
 4. The needle punching machine as described in claim 1 comprising elongated rails parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bed beam and extending out from the front and rear of said bed beam substantially along the entire length thereof, said second bearing means for bearing against the undersides of said rails and said third bearing means for bearing against the tops of said rails.
 5. The needle punching machine as described in claim 4 wherein said rails are cylindrical and said second and third bearing means are concave roller bearings.
 6. The needle punching machine as described in claim 1 comprising a driving wheel located adjacent said second bearing means for drivingly engaging said opposite bed beAm end when it is lowered from said needling position and for moving said bed beam out of said frame until said bed beam is clear of said web. 